Thermal Coagulation for Nonvariceal Bleeding

History

The use of cautery to control bleeding has a long history. Red hot irons were used by Hippocrates (460 - 380 BC) to control bleeding from hemorrhoids [1]. Electrocautery has been extensively used in surgery to stop bleeding. With the development of fiberoptic endoscopes, accessories which allowed cauterization of bleeding points in the gastrointestinal tract through the instrument channel become available, and endoscopic hemostasis using coagulation became a reality in the 1980s.

References

• 1 Hippocrates . The genuine works of Hippocrates. Volume II. Translated by Frances Adams. London; Sydenham Society 1849: 827-829
• 2 Siegel B, Hatke F L. Physical factors in electrocoagulation of blood vessels.  Arch Surg. 1967;  95 54-58
• 3 Johnston J H, Jensen D M, Auth D. Experimental comparison of endoscopic yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser, electrosurgery, and heater probe for canine gut arterial coagulation; importance of compression and avoidance of erosion.  Gastroenterology. 1987;  92 1101-1108
• 4 Chung S S, Lau J Y, Sung J J, et al. Randomised comparison between adrenaline injection alone and adrenaline injection plus heat probe treatment for actively bleeding ulcers.  BMJ. 1997;  314 1307-1311
• 5 Laine L. Determination of the optimal technique for biopolar electrocoagulation treatment: an experimental evaluation of the BICAP and Gold probes.  Gastroenterology. 1991;  100 107
• 6 Swain C P, Storey D W, Bown S G, et al. Nature of the bleeding vessel in recurrently bleeding gastric ulcers.  Gastroenterology. 1986;  90 595-608
• 7 Zuccaro G. Bleeding peptic ulcer: pathogenesis and endoscopic therapy.  Gastroenterol Clin N Am. 1993;  22 737-750
• 8 Soehendra N, Sriram P V, Ponchon T, Chung S C. Hemostatic clip in gastrointestinal bleeding.  Endoscopy. 2001;  33 172-180